By William C. Singleton III
Journal contributor
Students returning to Over the Mountain school systems this month will be greeted by new administrators in central offices and in individual schools.
As the 2014-2015 school year begins, schools in Homewood, Hoover, Vestavia Hills and Shelby County’s Oak Mountain area have had shake-ups somewhere in their administrative ranks.
In Vestavia Hills, a new superintendent will lead the school system. Sheila Phillips takes over for Jamie Blair, who moves into an advisory position and will serve out his contract until he retires Oct. 1, 2015.
Before being named the system’s sixth superintendent in May, Phillips had served as the city school system’s assistant superintendent since May 2012.
The school system is hosting a community meet and greet event with Phillips from 4-6 p.m. on Aug. 7 at the Vestavia Hills Board of Education Building at 1204 Montgomery Highway.
The Vestavia Hills school board also has named Meredith Hanson to replace Phillips as the system’s new assistant superintendent.
Hanson’s most recent position has been as executive director for human resources at Auburn City Schools. She has an educational specialist degree from Samford University and served as the assistant principal at Vestavia Hills Elementary Central from 2006-2012.
“I’m extremely humbled by this opportunity and very excited about what I know Mrs. Phillips has in mind for Vestavia Hills,” Hanson said. “I’m looking forward to coming back and working with the kids because they’re great students.”
Tim Loveless was named interim principal at Vestavia Hills High School on July 28. Loveless was an administrator with Cullman High School for more than 30 years before he retired in 2013.
Loveless takes over for Wes Gordon, who resigned in July to become the director of curriculum and professional development with the Auburn City School System. Gordon was appointed principal in July 2013 following the announcement that former principal Cas McWaters would retire.
The Vestavia Hills school system also named Tyler Burgess to replace David Miles as principal of Pizitz Middle School.
Burgess served as an assistant principal for Homewood Middle School. Miles retired after 23 years at Pizitz.
Hoover has two new assistant principals this school year.
Phillip Holley is the new assistant principal at Riverchase Elementary. He replaces Dianne Baggett, who retired.
Holley replaces Alice Turney, who became the principal of Riverchase Elementary School. Holley taught biology at Mountain Brook Junior High for 11 years and science in the Jefferson County school system for eight years.
At Rocky Ridge Elementary, Kara Chism steps into her new role as assistant principal. Chism replaces Dilhani Uswatte, who became principal of Rocky Ridge Elementary following the retirement of Sonia Carrington.
Chism worked in the Mountain Brook and Trussville school systems before coming to Hoover. She served as a middle school assistant principal in Trussville.
Homewood school officials have named Matt Kiser as assistant principal of Homewood Middle School to replace Burgess, who left for Vestavia Hills.
Kiser has served as an assistant principal at Homewood High School for two years.
“I have enjoyed working with the dedicated faculty and staff at Homewood High School and look forward to this opportunity of continuing the excellent tradition at Homewood Middle School,” Kiser said.
Kiser came to Homewood from Hewitt-Trussville High School, where he served as assistant principal.
Homewood does not plan to fill the assistant principal position at Homewood High, officials said.
Shelby County’s Oak Mountain High School has new administrators this year.
Kristi Sayers is the new principal at the high school. Sayers most recently served as professional development supervisor for Shelby County schools.
She has also served as an assistant principal at Pelham High School and acquired the award of a National Board Certified Teacher. Sayers has 25 years of experience in education.
Kendall Jackson is the new assistant principal at Oak Mountain High.
She has taught English at Thompson High for nine years and earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communications from Samford University and a master’s degree in secondary education and educational leadership from the University of Montevallo.
Mountain Brook school officials say while they won’t have any new administrators for the start of the 2014-2015 school year, they will unveil new programs.
Mountain Brook Junior High has a new STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) program called Project Lead the Way, officials said.
Mountain Brook High will partner with St. Vincent’s and Andrews Sports Medicine for a program that will allow students to shadow doctors for medical rotations and learn more about various medical professions.
School officials said the high school will also implement a Mentoring Everyone program which will allow high school students to visit and mentor students at Crestline Elementary. The program is patterned after the high school’s iLearn program in which high school students work as teacher assistants at Brookwood Forest Elementary.
“We are excited to be able to offer these programs for the students in our community,” said Lisa Beckham, director of administrative services for the Mountain Brook School System.
Students in Hoover City and Shelby County schools head back to class Aug. 7. The first day for students in Vestavia Hills City Schools is Aug. 11, and Homewood City Schools will start Aug. 12. Students in Mountain Brook City Schools start the new school year Aug. 13.
Over the Mountain Schools 2014-2015 Important Dates:
Homewood City Schools:
First Day for Students: Aug. 12
Labor Day: Sept. 1
Parent Teacher Conference Day/No Students: Oct. 17
Veterans Day: Nov. 11
Professional Development/No Students: Nov. 24-25
Thanksgiving: Nov. 26-28
Winter Holidays: Dec. 22-Jan. 2
Students Return: Jan. 6
MLK Jr. Holiday: Jan. 19
Spring Break: March 30-April 3
Last Day for Students: May 21
Website: www.homewood.k12.al.us
Hoover City Schools
First Day for Students: Aug. 7
Labor Day: Sept. 1
Parent Teacher Conference Day/No Students: Oct. 13
Veterans Day: Nov. 11
Thanksgiving: Nov. 24-28
Winter Holidays: Dec. 22-Jan. 5
Students Return: Jan. 5
MLK Jr. Holiday: Jan. 19
Spring Break: March 30-April 3
Last Day for Students: May 21
Website: www.hoovercityschools.net
Mountain Brook City Schools
First Day for Students: Aug. 13
Labor Day: Sept. 1
eSchool Day/No Students: Oct. 13
Veterans Day: Nov. 11
Thanksgiving: Nov. 26-28
Winter Holidays: Dec. 22-Jan. 2
Students Return: Jan. 6
MLK Jr. Holiday: Jan. 19
eSchool Day/No Students: Feb. 13
Spring Break: March 30-April 3
Last Day for Students: May 22
Website: www.mtnbrook.k12.al.us
Vestavia Hills City Schools
First Day for Students: Aug. 11
Labor Day: Sept. 1
Professional Development/No Students: Oct. 13
Veterans Day: Nov. 11
Thanksgiving: Nov. 26-28
Winter Holidays: Dec. 22-Jan. 2
Students Return: Jan. 6
MLK Jr. Holiday: Jan. 19
Technology Conference/No Students: Feb. 13
Spring Break: March 30-April 3
Last Day for Students: May 21
Website: www.vestavia.k12.al.us
Shelby County Schools
First Day for Students: Aug. 7
Labor Day: Sept. 1
Professional Development/No Students: Oct. 13
Veterans Day: Nov. 11
Thanksgiving: Nov. 24-28
Winter Holidays: Dec. 22-Jan. 2
Students Return: Jan. 5
MLK Jr. Holiday: Jan. 19
Presidents’ Day: Feb. 16
Teacher Workday/ No Students: March 9
Spring Break: March 30-April 3
Last Day for Students: May 21
Website: www.shelbyed.k12.al.us
–Emily Williams